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THE PHILIPPINES. 



SPEECH 



HON. JAMES HAY, 



OF VIRGINIA, 



HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 



WEDNESDAY, MARCH 28, 1900. 



WASHINGTON. 

i goo. 







SPEECH 

OF 

HOIST. JAMES HAY. 



The House being in Committee of the Whole on the state of the Union, and 
having under consideration the bill (H. R. 8582) making appropriation for the 
support of the Regular and Volunteer Army for the fiscal vear ending June 
30, 1901— 

Mr. HAY said: 

Mr. Chairman: It must be obvious that the very large amount 
of money carried in this bill is due in large measure to our occupa- 
tion of the Philippine Islands. The demands of the service in those 
islands require the presence of at least 65,000 men, and even with 
that number we can not properly garrison and effectively hold 
the towns and villages which we are constantly capturing and 
as constantly abandoning. The subjugation of' these people by 
military force will be found an endless task. Such, at least, 
has been the experience of this Government during the last year. 
We must, of course, appropriate the necessary money to pay, 
feed, and clothe the Army, which has been created by law and 
which is obeying the orders of this Government. 

The problem which confronts us is, How can we dispense with 
this great army; how can we relieve the people of this country of 
the enormous burden of taxation which the present policy of this 
Administration entails upon them? We can only do this by a 
declaration of a policy which will rid the Philippine Islanders of 
the fear that we are seeking to deprive them of their liberties. 
The Republican party is in power: upon them rests the responsi- 
bility of pacifying these islands. It is the duty of that party to 
acquaint the country with their purposes and intentions toward 
these islands and their inhabitants. 

But this great party, intrusted by the people with the destinies 
of the United States, is either afraid to avow its policy or it is 
incapable of dealing with the momentous questions which now 
confront us. That party is drifting. It is not willing to father 
any policy other than one of mysterious silence. That party, see- 
ing the tremendous sentiment in this country for the Boers fight- 
ing for their liberties, is afraid to avow its purpose of sailing 
liberty in the Philip] >ines, while it yet permits its Administration 
to carry out in the Philippines the same policy which the people 
of the United States condemn in South Africa. 

Two alternatives present themselves. We must either deter- 
mine to hold these islands as permanent possessions, or we must 
decide not to hold them. We can not hold them permanently 
unless we incorporate them as part of this country. To do this 
would be against the interests of all the people of the United 
States. I state it as an incontrovertible principle that the United 
States can not govern the Philippine Islands as a colony, separate 
and distinct from this country, without violating the Constitution 
of the United States. Such a mode of government was never 
contemplated by the founders of this Government, and is against 
2 4292 






3 

the genius, the traditions, and history of this country; and no 
circumstances now exist to warrant us in departing from funda- 
mental principles. The doctrine of a " higher law," even if such 
a doctrine were to be tolerated or could be justified^ is not appli- 
cable in this case. 

The only form of government which can be administered under 
the Constitution of the United States in the Philippines is the Ter- 
ritorial form of government, having for its ultimate object the 
admission of that Territory into the American Union as a State. 
No man, I care not what his politics may be, is willing to advocate 
the admission of the Philippine Islands as a State of this Union; 
nor is anyone willing even to make them a Territory, giving to 
them, as we would have to do. all the rights, privileges, and im- 
munities enjoyed by the people of the United States. 

As we can not, consistently with the interests of this country, 
govern these islands as a colony, nor as a Territory, nor as a State, 
we must meet the issue which faces us by the declaration of a policy 
which will tend to an immediate pacification of these islands and 
which will restore to the inhabitants thereof their confidence in 
us as a people who have in the past gained their own liberty and 
who have encouraged other peoples, by our sympathy and by our 
actions, to establish freedom in their own countries. 

We should first restore peace and order in the Philippine Is- 
lands; we should put down every semblance of opposition to this 
Government, which, unfortunately, has so dealt with these peo- 
ple as to make them look upon us rather as oppressors than as 
liberators. As soon as this task is accomplished we should estab- 
lish in the Philippine Islands, at the earliest practicable moment, a 
free and independent government for the inhabitants of these 
islands, reserving for ourselves such commercial rights and priv- 
ileges and retaining such trade and coaling stations as may be 
deemed necessary for the purposes of the trade and commerce of 
the United States with the Orient. 

If we pursue this course we will be true to the principles of 
liberty, and we will gain every advantage which, in any event, we 
can hope to obtain for the expansion of our trade and commerce. 
The conditions in the Philippines are such that only the strong 
hand of power can restore peace and order and establish for them 
a free government; and having put our hand to the task, we must 
not draw back until we have accomplished it. As soon as this 
country announces that freedom shall be given to the people of 
the Philippines, just so soon will those people begin to trust us 
and to cease their opposition. They will lay down their arms and 
hasten to assist us to accomplish our purpose, which will be their 
freedom. 

This policy must be announced in no uncertain terms, and must 
be carried out in good faith and with unfaltering resolution. 
When it is announced and inaugurated we will begin to see the 
end of imperialism. Such a policy will sound the death knell to 
militarism. The enormous expenditures for the Army, for the 
Navy, for fortifications, can he done away with, and the people of 
the United States can see an end to the vast burden of taxation 
which they now bear. The policy which is outlined here is prac- 
ticable, is wise, and is consonant with our Constitution, with our 
traditions, with our history, and with our duty to ourselves and 
to the world. 

To govern the Philippine Islands as a colony and to hold them 
permanently, besides being as such unconstitutional, will be of no 
4:9.2 



advantage to any class of citizens in the United States. The agri- 
culturist, the laboring man, and the business man can derive no 
benefit from such a policy. In the first place, such a government 
means the continuation and increase of the large expenditure how 
necessary. The Army and Navy must be increased. Vast sums 
must be expended for fortifications on these islands. A very large 
standing army is inevitable if this policy is pursued. 

It is not conceivable that we can continue the present system of 
volunteer enlistments of two years; it is too expensive, too cum- 
bersome, and practically requires us to equip and discipline an 
army every two years; the only alternative is the maintenance of a 
great military establishment, which, once fastened upon us, it will 
be next to impossible to dislodge. The experience of the last year 
teaches us that less than 65,000 men in the Philippines can accom- 
plish but little, and the problem presents itself, how can we be- 
fore July, 1901, when the present 35,000 volunteers must be mus- 
tered out by law. bring into subjugation the inhabitants of these 
islands so that they can be governed without the use of this im- 
mense military establishment, costing over $100,000,000 annually? 

Added to the military establishment is the naval establishment. 
The possession of these islands and their permanent retention 
make it absolutely necessary that we should protect them from all 
outside interference. To do this we must have a naval force ca- 
pable of meeting, and meeting successfully, the naval force of any 
country which might by possibility come against us. We must 
build ship for ship with every great maritime power of the world 
and build many ships before we can be classed with England and 
France as a set, power. In this Congress the naval appropriation 
bill carries about $70,000,000, and we must look to see these appro- 
priations increased from year to year. 

Again, we must erect fortifications on every island which we 
intend to hold. The cost of this can not be computed; but it 
would run into the hundreds of millions. A moderate estimate 
would be that the government of these islands as a colony would 
cost this country annually $400,000,000. What material benefits, 
then, can we derive from the permanent retention of these islands? 
What can the farmers and laborers of this country expect in re- 
turn for the taxes which they must pay to keep up the Army and 
Navy which will be necessary to hold them? In acquiring them 
you acquire a country which will compete in the markets of the 
world with the cotton growers of the South, with the wheat rais- 
ers throughout this country, with those who grow corn and rice, 
and with almost every agricultural product of the United States. 

The labor of this country will have to compete with the cheap- 
est labor on the globe, with Chinese, Japanese, and Malay labor. 
These islands present no field of enterprise to our young men. 
Opportunities in the United States have not been exhausted. This 
country to-day presents the widest field for business and enter- 
prise of any other in the world. 

Commerce can find its outlet and advantage to the counti-ies in 
the East in the manner which I have indicated, by our reserving 
such commercial rights and privileges and retaining such trade 
and coaling stations as may be necessary for the purposes of our 
trade in the Orient. Let us briefly examine the geography, the 
resources, the trade and commerce, the climate and situation of 
these islands, so that we may determine what material advantages 
they have for us. 
4293 



TOPOGRAPHY, ETC. 

The Philippine Islands number, by various estimates, from 1,000 
to 2,000. 

Luzon the largest, has an area of about 41,000 square miles; 
Mindanao, the next, about 37,500 square miles; the five next in 
size, about 10,000 square miles each. 

The aggregate land area of the group, about 114,356 square 
miles, the entire land and water being about 1,000 miles long and 
600 wide. 

The contour consists mainly of mountains and intervening val- 
leys, with some plains of limited area. 

The climate ranges from SO 13 to 100° in the hottest season to 60' 
in the coolest. 

The seasons are classed as wet and dry. The Spanish tersely 
describe them as li six months of mud, six months of dust, and 
six months of everything," including, of course, gales, typhoons, 
and occasional earthquakes. 

The following is from the Military Notes on the Philippines, 
No. 20, September, 1898, War Department (page 20) : 

Spanish statistics are notoriously unreliable, and no accurate census has 
ever been taken, but the population has been estimated at about 8,000,OUO, of 
which the bulk is of Malay origin. On first arrival the Spaniards found a 
part of the natives somewhat civilized; but while they had a written lan- 



guage, of which some specimens have been preserved, it was of no value in 
throwing light upon their early ; history, and their traditions are very few. 
As in Mexico and Central America, the Spanish priests have been only too 



successful in their effort to extirpate all mythological and other lore, 
treatment of the inhabitants has been more merciful, however, than in the 
western possessions. 

The Philippine Malays are a superior race to many other Asiatic peoples. 
Orderly, amiable, courteous, honest, and exceedingly superstitious, they are 
easily influenced upon profession of Christianity. Like most tropical people, 
their efforts are intermittent rather than steady; their wants are readily 
provided for, and they take life easy. The inhabitants of the island are com- 
posed of the most diverse mixtures of races, including Malays. Aetas. Negritos, 
pure blacks, Chinese, Japanese, Indios, Moors, Europeans, and mixtures of 
each with the others. 

There are nearly as many different tribes as there are islands, and it is said 
that 500 languages and dialects are spoken in the islands at the present day. 
The inhabitants are generally tractable and amenable to government, and gen- 
erally not hostile to foreigners. In the inaccessible parts of the island there are 
still tribes of unsubdued savages, whose number is estimated at about 61 1.3,000. 
Fond of music, dancing, and amusements of all kinds, they are born gamblers, 
and cock-fighting is their greatest passion. Every town has its cockpit, and 
in the largest the spectators may be numbered by thousands. 

This amusement was heavily taxed by the Spaniards, and advantage is 
taken of the taste for gambling by running a lottery for the benefit of the 
Government. 

Probably not more than fifteen or twenty thousand Spaniards, or people 
of pure Spanish blood, are permanent residents, and the number of other 
foreigners is not large. The majority of these are at Manila, where the Eng- 
lish have established a club in the suburbs, which has become the center of 
foreign social intercourse. (Military Notes on the Philippines, page 34. ; 

The principal staples of export are tobacco (manufactured and 
raw) , manila hemp, sugar cane, coffee, and cocoa. The principal 
manufactures consist of a variety of textile fabrics, hats, mats, 
baskets, ropes, furniture, coarse pottery, carriages, and musical 
instruments. 

EXTRACTS FROM THE CONSULAR REPORTS (JUNE, 1838). 

During the quarter ending December 31, 1897, there were exported from 
these islands to the United States and Great Britain 310,898 bales of hemp 1 280 
pounds per bale"), of which 138,792 bales went to the United States and 78,100 
bales went to Great Britain. During the year 1897 there was an increase in 
the export of hemp from the Philippines to continental Europe of 19,741 bales: 
to Australia, 3,193 bales; to China, 2S bales; to Japan, 3,638 bales and to the 
4293 



6 



United States, 133,896 bales, a total increase of 158,485 bales; while to Great 
Britain there was a decrease of 22,348 bales. Thus, of increased shipments 
from the Philippines, those to the United States were 544 per cent greater 
than to all other countries combined. Of the total exports of hemp from the 
Philippines for the ter>. years ended 1897, amounting to 6,528,965 bales (914,055 
tons), 41 per cent went to the United States. 

During the same years the Philippine Islands exported to the United 
States and to Europe 1,582,904 tons of sugar, of which 875,150 tons went to the 
United States 666,391 tons to Great Britain, and 41,362 tons to continental 
Europe, showing tnat of the total exports more than 55 per cent went to the 
United States. At the current values in Npw York of hemp (4 cents per 
pound) and of raw sugar (3| cents per pound) the exports of these two prod- 
ucts alone from these islands to the United States during the ten years 
under review amounted to $89,253,722.80, or an average of nearly $8,926,372 per 
year. 

Data as to cigars, tobacco, copra, woods, hides, shells, indigo, coffee, etc., 
are not now obtainable, but a conservative estimate would so raise the above 
figures as to show United States imports from these islands to average about 
SI, 000,000 per month. To-day there are authentical invoices for export to the 
United States amounting to $138,066.12. 

IMPORTS. 

The following statement of the general trade of the Philippine 
Islands is taken from the Review of the World's Commerce, 
1896-97, soon to be published by the Bureau of Foreign Commerce. 
According to a British foreign office report (No. 1932, annual 
series, 1897), the total imports into the island in 1896 were valued 
at $10,631,250, and the exports at §20,175,000. The trade with 
several of the most important countries, compiled from the re- 
spective official statistics, was: 



Country 
. e 

Great Britain 

Germany 

France 

Belgium 

United States 

China. 

Japan* 



Imports. 



Exports. 



$2,467,090 


$7,467,500 


744,928 


233.700 


1,794,900 


1,987,900 


272,240 


45, 660 


162,446 


4,982,857 


103,680 


13, 770 


98, 782 


1,387,909 



* In 1897. 

The chief imports are rice, flour, dress goods, wines, coal, and 
petroleum. 

Agriculture is not yet developed, although the soil is very fertile. 

The people are skillful weavers of cotton and silk; they can tan 
leather; excel in shipbuilding, and make good wagons and carts. 

In Consular Reports (June, 1899, page 296) Consul Williams 
writes: 

The Philippines produce a good quantity of woven stuff. Probably the 
greater part is made of imported cotton yarn, gray, white, and dyed: but 
there are also many thousands of pieces made of mauila hemp, in ordinary 
and in fine qualities, the latter very often mixed with silk. 

The principal places for the manufacture of catton goods are the two 
provinces of Ilocos, in the north of Luzon, and for hemp the provinces of 
Albay and Canmrines. The Visayas provinces manufacture all the different 
woven stuffs. 

From Consular Reports (December, 1898, page 559) Consul Mor- 
ris reports: 

As all details relative to the Philippine Islands are at present of impor- 
tance, I have thought that the free translation of a recent report made by the 
Belgian consul at Manila upon the export trade of those islands during 1897 
may not be without interest. This report bears date April 21, 1898. 

The Belgian consul maintains that during 1897 statistics show a great in- 
crease in the export trade, notwithstanding the continuance of the rebellion. 
The export of abaca, or manila hemp, increased by 314,284 piculs (43,816,903 
pounds). Copra likewise was exported to the amount of 200,000 piculs 



(27,890,000 pounds) more tlian in 1896. The exportation of this product began 
only in 1893. Prior to that time almost all the copra came from the Caroline 
Islands. To-day all the islands of the archipelago produce it. Exports of 
dyewoods, coffee, indigo, mother-of-pearl, gums, tobacco, leather, and hemp 
rope also considerably increased. 

The following table shows the total export trade of abaca from the Philip- 
pine Islands during the past ten years: 



Year. 


Quantity 
exported. 


Year. 


Quantity 
exported. 


188S 


Pounds. 

184,473,548 
158,374,451 

141,166,639 

177,354,058 
330,473,681 


1893. 


Pounds. 

178,906,261 

321,999,100 

229,338,075 

213,601,979 

251,64S,123 


1889 


1894 


1890 - 


1895 , 


1891 


1896 . . 


1892 


1897 









Exports of sugar by Manila show a decrease of 656,426 piculs (91 ,899,640 
pounds) for 1897 as compared with 1896. 

At Cebu, on the contrary, the export trade of sugar increased. Both in 
the Visayos and Negros Islands the production of sugar greatly developed. 
During the last ten years the quantity of sugar exported from the Philip- 
pine Islands has been as follows: 



Year. 


Quantity 
exported. 


Year. 


Quantity 
exported. 


1888 


Pounds. 
414,988,800 
490,377,680 
290,459,080 
373,767,400 
553,148,400 


1893 


Pounds. 
585,801,440 


1889.. 


1894 

1895 . 


435.275,120 


1890 


517, 267, 060 


1891 


1896 


515, 006, 520 




1897 


453,087,620 







The exports of dyewoods from Manila, entirely for China and Japan, 
amounted in 1897 to 9,167,900 pounds, as compared with 7,838,600 pounds in 1896. 

The exportation of cigars fell from 194,136,000 in 1896 to 169,465,000 in 1897. 
The export trade of 1897 was distributed as follows: 



To— 


Number. 


To- 


Number. 




2,460,000 

183,000 

30,500,000 




24,290,000 
16, 300, 000 








Singapor e and India 


37,310,000 
58,420,000 









Of leather for glue, there were exported, in 1897, 112,000 pounds for the 
United States and Canada, 77,150 pounds for Singapore and India, and 99,450 
pounds for China and Japan. 

HENRY C. MORRIS, Coh.su?. 

Ghent, September 17, 1S98. 

From Consular Reports, November, 1898 (page 446), Consul 
Frankenthal reports: 

Prom an interview with a merchant of Manila, I am enabled to give the 
exporters of the United States certain points which may be of value to busi- 
ness men who intend to enter the field there. 

The Philippines contain over 7,000,000 inhabitants. The Chinese, who are 
in the majority among the aliens, control the retail trade, while next to them 
come the Spanish dealers. It is estimated that there are about 300 other Eu- 
ropeans in business in the whole group. The richest dealers are the Creoles 
and mestizos, a combination of Chinese and Tagalese. 

In Manila there are many large cigarette factories, some of which employ 
as many as 4,000 hands. A few German, Swiss, and English firms have en- 
tered that field. There is also a sugar refinery, a steam rice mill, a Spanish 
electrical plant, a Spanish telephone exchange, a Spanish tramway, worked 

Eartly by steam and partly by horsepower; rope factories, worked mainly by 
and (a few use oxen); a Spanish brewery, which furnishes a good beer; a 



8 

German cement factory, with 70 bands; a S vviss umbrella factory, and a Swiss 
bat factory, wbicb makes felt and straw articles, tbe latter out of Chinese 
straw braid. A cotton mill with 6,000 spindles and with capital (English) of 
£40.000 ($194,600) is in process of erection. 

Tbe European firms in Manila are divided as follows: Forty- five Span- 
ish, 19 German, 17 English, 2 English and 6 Swiss brokers, 2 French storekeep- 
ers with large establishments, 1 Dutch, and 1 Belgian. Small retail stores 
(40 in number) are kept by Chinese firms. The German and Swiss firms are 
general importers, while the export of hemp and sugar, the import of do- 
mestic dry goods, and the ship-chandlery trade are in the hands of the Eng- 
lish. 

Credit from one to three months and 5 per cent is given, while spot-cash 
sales command a discount of 7 per cent. Caution is advised in dealing with 
the Chinese merchants, as Manila has no mercantile register like Hongkong. 

Cotton yarns are a heavy import article, so far mainly from Barcelona, by 
reason of the minimum Spanish tariff. The Spanish manufacturers have 
done what England, Germany, and Switzerland have always refused to do, 
and that is to renumber the yarns. In Manila No. 10 is sold numbered 24; 
No. 16, numbered 30; No. 18, numbered 32; No. 22, numbered 49; No. 32, num- 
bered 50, and No. 36 or 40, numbered 60. The orders given are for four-fifths 
unbleached and one-fifth bleached. 

Dyed yarn is bought in Nos. 20 and 32, in colors of orange, green, and rose. 
Turkey-red yarn, in the correct Nos. 20 to 40, especially 32, used to come 
from Elberfeld, but of late years Spain has managed to supply it. Bleached 
and unbleached shirtings and drills, from Manchester, are sold in large quan- 
tities, but of late the pieces have decreased in yards as well as in widths. The 
staples now are white shirtings, 26 inches wide and 36 yards long; gray T 
cloth, 25 inches wide and 2U yards long; gray long cloth, 28 inches wide and 
33 yards long; and gray drills, 25 inches wide and 27 yards long. 

Colored prints, 24 inches wide, with red ground and fancy crimps, are good 
sellers. Ginghams and cheilass, for bed coverings, etc., common quality, in 
large patterns with red ground, some with yellow or blue squares, some 
with indigo ground, and a few in green, in pieces of 24 yards, find a good 
market, while cotton cassinette, in light weight and double width, for trow- 
sers, is in demand. Handkerchiefs, 17 by 18 inches and 22 by 22 inches, white, 
or white with colored borders, are the correct thing. Black cotton zaneilas, 
18 J- inches wide, Tor the dresses of the country women, and aniline black sat- 
ins, in 45-inch goods, are considered stylish. 

Woven cotton underwear is a great staple, and white cotton bed quilts, in 
fancy patterns, are used as ponchos, after a hole has been cut in the center. 
It is estimated by my informant that 1500,000 |dozen undershirts are used 
annually— two-thirds with arms half-length, sizes 34 to 40, 27 inches long, 
bleached white, striped, printed, and network. Men's cotton socks, 9 to 11, 
and ladies' cotton hose, 8 to 9}, are the right sizes. Cheap cotton lace pinta 
fichus are worn by all the women. 

Other articles which have a good sale are low-priced sewing machines, 
carriages and parts, enameled ware for cooking utensils, and, last but not 
least, American clocks, which now have a good foothold and for which there 
is an increasing demand. 

ADOLPH L. FRANKENTHAL, Consul. 

Berne, September 16, 1S9S. 

(Consular Reports, October, 1898, pages 313-315.) 

FOREIGN REPORTS AND PUBLICATIONS— COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL 
CONDITIONS IN THE PHILIPPINES. 

The following extracts are from the Bulletin de la Societe de 
Geographic Commerciale, Paris, Volume XIX, No. 4. Speaking 
of the market for European goods, the writer says: 

French canned goods, while appreciated for their good qualities, are un- 
dersold by English and Spanish articles. The Germans sell only canned veg- 
etables. A Swiss establishment has recently begun selling pates de f oie gras, 
sauerkraut, and preserved vegetables. Australia is now sending large quan- 
tities of butter and meat. Wine and whisky do not sell readily, on account 
of the competition of local manufacturers. 

There is a good market for jewelry, especially in the provinces, in inex- 
pensive articles. The French have a'good place in this line, although the 
Germans and Swiss are competing seriously. American watches and jewelry 
in white metal are also becoming known. The profits in this branch are 
enormous. Watch pins, bought in Europe at 7 francs ($1.35) per dozen, sell 
here at S3, Mexican ($1.33), apiece. The same is true of many other articles. 

Textiles of cotton, silk, linen, etc., would find an important market here 
if they were adapted to the taste of the millions of inhabitants of these islands. 

Shoes are an important item of importation. They represent over 1,500,000 
francs ($289,500) annually, and come chiefly from Austria, Germany, and 
(since 1895)from Spain. Allarticlespertainingtocarriagesare well received. 
4292 



Chromos, engravings, religious objects, etc., have a large sale among the 
Indians and half-breeds. 

The glassware sold at Manila is mostly of the most ordinary class, and is 
supplied by England, Germany, and China. Frencti perfumery and drugs 
are sold universally. Olive oil comes from Spain, and dried fruits, which are 
largely consumed, are sent by Spain, Italy, and China. 

Besides the above-mentioned articles, England, Germany, and Belgium ex- 
port to the Philippines a considerable quantity of iron, zinc (worked and un- 
worked), machines of all sorts, and firearms, as well as hardware, nails, and 
other small articles of iron, which sell at remunerative prices. 

In regard to the resources of the islands the article continues: 
The land is wonderfully productive, but lacks intelligent cultivation. So 
wasteful have been the methods that, in spite of the wonderful fertility of 
the soil, the harvests have in some places diminished. This is true of maize 
in the island of Cebu and of sugar cane in the province of Pangasinan, where 
new plantations must now be made every year, while at Negros the land 
yields many times in succession. The rice production, formerly so large, has 
so fallen off that importations have been found necessary. 

To give an idea of what the archipelago has suffered in this respect from 
the negligence of its inhabitants, the following table, showing the imports of 
rice into the Philippines for a certain number of years, has been compiled: 

1881 12,253,166 

1882 20,754,104 

1883 119,365,862 

1890 157,157,763 

1891 160,195,654 

1892 138,247,863 

There are two kinds of rice in the islands— hill rice and plain rice— although 
these two varieties might be infinitely subdivided according to quality, 
shape, size, etc. This is the principal food of man and animals. Very little 
work is necessary in its cultivation, and it is astonishing that the natives 
have not produced larger quantities instead of deriving their supplies from 
Japan and China. The method of cultivation is as follows: At the end of 
April the ground is worked and divided into large squares. One of these is 
used as a seed plot, and the work is continued on the others. 

After three or four days the ground is harrowed and the seed, after being 
soaked in water for at least two hours, is planted. The ground must not be 
allowed to become too dry or too wet in the interval before transplanting, 
which usually takes place in June when the plants are from 4 to 7 inches 
high. "Women and children then carefully lift the young plants and carry 
them to adjacent squares similarly prepared, where other women place them 
in rows about 8 inches apart. During the period of growth each square is 
left open in order that the water may freely enter, and it is only when the 
plant becomes yellow that the ground is allowed to dry. The plants are 
again watered and are gathered by men by means of primitive sickles. 

The production of cotton is also diminishing, for the same reasons that 
apply to rice. It grows in the provinces of north and south Hocus, Union, 
Abra, and Pangasinan. The kinds cultivated are Gossypium herbaceum and 
Boinba pentandrum. The ground is almost never prepared, and the cotton 
is silky in quality and would easily become a valuable product if attention 
were given to the cultivation. 

In the two provinces of Hocus too great humidity is not to be feared for 
this plant, for the season of rain is well defined here, from June until October, 
and the land is adapted to its cultivation. Nevertheless, the indolence of the 
Indians has caused cotton to take an inferior rank among the products of the 
colony. 

Hemp is the most important product, and is obtained from the trunk of a 
species of banana tree, the fruit of which is not comestible. The tree, which 
attains a height of from 22 to 26 feet, is cultivated in the following manner: 

The ground is worked carefully, the best period being from June to Octo- 
ber; it is well irrigated and divided into squares of about 13 feet. Earth that 
has clay on the surface and limestone below is well adapted for the purpose. 
The seeds are planted two and two in little holes 5 to 7 inches apart and cov- 
ered with earth and straw, the latter being set on fire to aid in the germina- 
tion. The ground is irrigated before sunrise for several days, and care is 
taken to destroy all insects. 

When the plants are about the size of three fingers they are transplanted. 
The sprouts during the heat of the day, i. e., from 10 to 3 o'clock, are shel- 
tered from the rays of the sun. After the third year the plants yield every 
eight months. Some producers plant sweet potatoes between the rows of 
bananas. This vegetable is largely consumed in the islands, and its roots de- 
stroy the weeds that grow so rapidly in these climates. The potatoes, how- 
ever, must be protected against the boars, which are very fond of this vege- 
table. 



10 

The production of sugar is gradually developing. When the cultivation 
of this product was begun, elevated lands were chosen, not only to avoid the 
excess of burnidity, but also because the low-lying land was occupied with 
rice and maize. The sugar plantations were established on the hills, which 
necessitated additional labor and longer transportation. Rats have caused 
serious damage, and the lack of labor and of capital has been an additional ob- 
stacle to the progress of the industry. 

Sugar is planted in March and April in order to have the cane of good size 
by the rainy season. Two sorts are found in the Philippines, one of green 
and the other of reddish color. The product goes to Japan, England, and 
the United States. The price is very low. The principal centers of produc- 
tion are the provinces of Batangas, Pampanga, llocos, Pangasinan, and Bul- 
can; also lloilo and the islands of Cebu and Negros. 

Tobacco alone would make a fortune for the Philippines, although it must 
be admitted that the quality has deteriorated of late years on account of the 
lack of good management. A large number of companies have been formed 
for the exploitation of this industry. The two most important are the 
"Compagnie Generale des Tabacs des Philippines," the capital of which 
(§14.500,0(10 gold) is principally in the hands of French bondholders, and the 
"Insular." Each of these establishments employs from 5,000 to 0,000 workmen. 

The native coffee has a fine aroma. It grows in the provinces of Batangas, 
Cavite, and Zamboanga, and is exported chiefly to Spain. The cocoanut tree 
grows abundantly and seems made to order for these countries, where the 
people are averse to exertion. Cocoanut oil is used for lighting the houses 
and streets of certain provinces, where electricity or petroleum are as yet 
unknown. 

The native indigo is famous for its excellent quality. Several years ago 
the provinces of llocos, Pangasinan, Pampanga, and Camarines produced 
enormously. Unfortunately, the faulty preparation and the adulteration on 
the part of the Chinese traders to which the powder was subjected have 
greatly reduced its market value. It is exported chiefly to Japan. 

Cavao is produced in the provinces of Leyte, Bohol, Misamis, Cebu, Ne- 
gros, and Samar; that of Cebu and Negros, especially, can rival the best of 
America. On account of the laziness of the Indians, all the product is lo- 
cally consumed. 

A species of dy6wood, which resembles logwood and is called sibacao, is 
produced in the country and exported to England and China, Among the 
other products of the country are ihlang-ihlang, wax, mother-of-pearl, straw 
hats, rattan, etc. These have, however, a secondary importance. 

Besides the numerous tobacco establishments, to which reference has al- 
ready been made, there are in Manila rice factories, sugar mills, distilleries, 
factories of cord, carriages, soap, aerated waters, brickyards, sawmills, print- 
ing establishments, as well as repair shops, Chinese houses where cheap f ur 
niture, shoes, etc., are made, and the numerous little industries which belong 
to a city. The purely native industries consist of work in bamboo and cotton, 
engraving, and making straw hats. The women have long and slender fin- 
gers, fine and sensitive, and the hats and cigarette holders they make, their 
work on pineapple cloth, and the articles they embroider, are models of deli- 
cacy. 

The manufacture of cotton goods often forms the occupation of an entire 
village, and the industry is far from being of insignificant proportions. Arti- 
ficial incubation, however, is perhaps the industry most peculiar to the Phil- 
ippines. The apathy of the natives adapts them to this occupation, in which, 
however, only those who are old and crippled are employed. They lie on 
soft beds, the eggs being placed around their bodies, and maintain this posi- 
tion until the eggs are hatched. Ducks are raised in large quantities. 

As to the imports and exports earlier, the following estimate is 
given in Consular Reports, July, 1808, page 423: 

In 1891 the Philippine exports to Spain amounted to 82:2,479,000 (§18,095.595). 

In 1891 the Philippine imports from Spain amounted to $17,126,000 ($13,- 
780,-130). 

The total exports from the Philippines in 1892 consisted of 95,016 tons of 
hemp; 3,951,oi;o pimls i55:;,l is.liin pounds) of sugar; 21,223 piculs (2.971.220 
pounds) of coffee; 01,459 piculs (8,604,260 pounds) of sampan wood; 5,570 piculs 
(77!i,soo pounds) of indigo; 254.428 quintals (56,091,197 pounds) of tobacco leaf; 
137.059,000 cigars. The total exports in 1892 were of the value of $33,479,000 
(823,803,569). 

Total value of imports in 1892 were of the value of $27,000,000 ($19,197,000). 

Manila hemp is the fiber of a species of banana (Musa text His) which thrives 
only in certain localities, where it is cultivated by the natives. The fiber is 
still produced in the old way. by scraping the leaves with a peculiar knife, 
which requires expert handling. Numberless contrivances to supersede this 
simply process have been tried and patented, but without success. The native 
way is still the best, and it produces a fine fiber of which thread is spun and 
cloth woven that excels the best Tussore silk. 
4292 



11 

The manufacture of sugar is not carried on in a large way, but on small 
plantations with antiquated machinery. There are a few factories, but they 
are isolated. Some years ago an enterprising Australian established a cen- 
tral sugar factory and laid down miles of pipes for the conveyance of the cane 
.iuice to the boilers, and generally went to vast expense. The factory was 
there and the engines, with the most recent improvements, vacuum pans, and 
what not. The only thing that was wanting was the plantations to supply 
the juice. And thus the money was lost, and the pipes that were to conduct 
the cane juice now convey limpid water to the inhabitants of Manila. 

O. S. Williams, consul at Manila, reported February, 1898, as 
follows (Consular Reports, June, 1898, page 294): 

During the quarter ended December 31, 1897, there were exported from 
these islands to the United States and Great Britain 216,898 bales of hemp (280 
pounds per bale), of which 138,793 bales went to the United States and only 
78,106 bales to Great Britain. 

Diiring the year 1897 there was an increase in the export of hemp from the 
Philippines to continental Europe of 19,741 bales; to Australia, 2,192 bales; to 
China, 28 bales: to Japan, 2,628 bales, and to the United States, 133,896 bales, a 
total increase of 158,485 bales, while to Great Britain there was a decrease of 
22,318 bales. (This report is to appear in the forthcoming edition of Com- 
mercial Eelations, 1896-97, but is printed now on account of the general 
demand for information. ) 

Thus, of increased shipments from the Philippines, those to the United 
States were 544 per cent greater than to all other countries combined. 

Of the total exports of hemp from the Philippines for the ten years ended 
1897, amounting to 6,52S,965 bales (.914,055 tons), 41 per cent went to the United 
States. 

Duriner the same years the Philippine Islands exported to the United 
States and to Europe 1,582,904 tons of sugar, of which 875,150 tons went to the 
United States, 666,391 tons to Great Britain, and 41,362 tons to continental 
Europe; showing that cf the total exports more than 55 per cent went to the 
United States. 

At the current values in New York of hemp (4 cents per pound) and of raw 
sugar (3| cents per pound) the exports of these two products alone from these 
islands to the United States during the ten years under review amounted to 
§89.263,722.80, or an average of nearly 88,926,372 per year. 

Data as to cigars, tobacco, copra, woods, hides, shells, indigo, coffee, etc., 
are not now obtainable; but a conservative estimate would so raise the above 
figures as to show United States imports from these islands to average about 
81,000,000 per month. To-day I have authenticated invoices for export to 
United States amounting to 8138,066.12. 

Later I will write of the Philippine tariff, import and export, being now 
engaged in translating it into English- The export duties and charges here 
on the hemp and sugar exported to the United States during the ten years 
ended with 1897 amounted to $5,172,994.87. 

It is, from the above, very apparent that the trend of trade is toward the 
United States, and my best endeavors will be exerted for its further exten- 
sion. 

There are here 22 consulates, representing the several countries, but the 
volume of the export trade coming under my official supervision equals that 
of mv 21 colleagues combined. 

OSCAE F. WILLIAMS, Consul. 

Manila, February 2S, 1S9S. 

According to the returns of the Bureau of Statistics, Treasury- 
Department, the annual imports into the United States from the 
Philippine Islands amounted to $74,150,284 during the ten years 
ended June 30, 1897, or §7,415,028 per year. For the seven years 
ended with 1894 the imports averaged §8,564,611 per year, but for 
the last three years the imports fell off nearly one-half, amount- 
ing to only $4,731,366, §4,982,857, and §4,383,740 in 1895, 1896, and 
1897, respectively. 

Isaac M. Elliott, consul at Manila, reported, September 20, 1894 
(Consular Report, June, 1895, page 205) : 

PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 

There is considerable demand for butter in Manila, but outside of the city 
there is no market for dairy produce. The natives never eat butter or any 
other dairy produce, although cape buffaloes are very numerous, and give a 
fair supply of milk if taken proper care of. Still, the natives let the cattle 
go dry as soon as the calf is large enough to take care of itself, which is 
usually the same period as our cows require for the same purpose. 



12 

In ana a bout Manila there are a few small herds of Australian cows, the milk 
from which is sold in the city. The quality is not nearly so good as that from 
cows in a colder climate, but we are glad to get it, and pay 40 cents (Mexican) 

Eer bottle, each bottle holding three-fourths of a quart, English measure; 
ut as the cows soon deteriorate in so hot a climate, there is but small profit 
in the business, even at the high price of milk. For tatter we pay 50 to 60 
cents (Mexican) per tin can, holding somewhat less than a pound. But, as I 
said before, with the exception of Manila and a few towns, say Iloilo and 
Cebu, no butter is sold, and I fear that there will never be much of a market 
in this country for dairy produce. 

As to apples and other fruits, I am quite sure that no trade could be built 
up, except in the preserved form, for the following reasons, viz: (1) The long 
voyage in a steamer's hold in the close, hot atmosphere prevailing nine 
months out of the year, and the transshipping at Hongkong to other steamers 
for the passage here, which usually takes five days via Amoy, would rot the 
fruit before arrival; (2) with the exception of a few Europeans, who might 
be willing to pay a fair price, there would be no sale for them if brought in 
good condition, and I doubt very much if a trade could ever be built up for 
fruits such as the circular describes. 

But I do think that, with proper energy, a large trade in canned fruits 
might be had here, as every person 1 have spoken to on the subject admits 
that our California fruits are the best in the world. Messrs. Warner Blodget 
& Co., Manila, brought out quite a large consignment, but, not being in the 
retail trade, of course did not meet with much success. I have used some of 
the fruit, which was in store nearly two years, and it was still in good condi- 
tion. Except a few cans that had rusted around the edges, all the cans were 
in good condition. I would suggest a covering of some material to be applied 
to the tin that would prevent the rapid destruction of the cans. 

It is impossible to give figures of what portion of the whole imports of the 
articles mentioned is shared by the United States. 

ISAAC M. ELLIOTT, Consul. 

Manila, September SO, 189h. 

As to American flour, Mr. Cowan, consul at Manila, reported in 
February, 1894 (Consular Reports. June, 1894, pages 308, 309) : 
Philippine Islands. 
cebu. 

Standard of living.— The standard of living in the Cebu district is not high. 
The ordinary food of the bulk of the population consists of rice and maize, 
which are always procurable at moderate prices. These have always been 
the food of the people, and they do not show any desire to alter their mode 
of living. 

Quality of flour used.—" Sperry's XXX " flour is practically the only kind 
sold here. 

Imports of flour and ivheat.— Flour is not imported directly into this dis- 
trict, the supply being drawn from Manila. It is estimated that 400 quarter 
sacks are consumed here monthly, principally in the form of bread, by the 
European community. 

Wheat is not imported at all. 

Exchange and skipping facilities.— The financial arrangements of the dis- 
trict are carried out in Manila by representative agencies here. As stated 
before, our supplies come through Manila. 

Obstacles to trade. — The only obstacles to the extension of trade in Ameri- 
can flour are the conservatism of the natives and their disinclination to work, 
which prevents their earning more than sufficient to purchase the cheapest 
form of food, which is probably maize. In my opinion, therefore, the demand 
for American flour is likely to bo of slow growth. 

G. E. A. CADELL, Consular Agent. 

Cebu, March S, 189k. 

MANILA. 

Standard of living.— The Caucasian element here live very much as they 
do at home, but the natives and Chinese, who form over 90 per cent of the 
population, are rice eaters. There is, however, a large consumption of flour 
by the European population. The troops and naval forces also use consider- 
able quantities. The natives, especially those living near the large towns, 
eat bread made of wheat flour. 

Imports of pour anil irlwat.— The imports of American flour, imported from 
China, amounted to :j:jr.,(Hio sacks (quarter barrels) and :;:>;i.ihio sacks in 1891 
and 1892. respectively. The statistics for 1893 are not yet available. 

Practically all the flour imported is American flour. Occasionally a sailing 
vessel loaves San Francisco to load outward at a Philippine port, and it often 
finds it convenient to take flour in lieu of ballast. 

Such imports would be credited to the United States, but almost every 
sack of flour that finds its way to these islands is transshipped at Hongkong 
4292 



13 

into local steamers, and the customs statistics credit the import to China. 
Some small lots of Japanese and Australian flour also come via Hongkong, 
but these grades can not compare either in quality or price with California 
flour. 

Wheat is not imported into these islands. 

Duties.— The duty on quarter-barrel sacks of flour is 56 cents each, includ- 
ing duty on the sack, and on wheat, 66 cents per 100 kilograms. The duty is 
the same on flour from all countries, except that from Spain. Spanish flour 
pays but 20 cents per barrel, and Spanish wheat but 6 cents per 100 kilograms. 
It was expected that when these differential duties went into force (April 1, 
1892) a large demand for Spanish flour would set in. This, however, has not 
proved to be the case. 

Exchange and shipping facilities. — Flour business is only possible where a 
bank credit ok London is opened by some bank here through some other 
bank in San Francisco. There is no direct shipping between these islands, 
except as before stated. 

Trade outlook.— II flour were put on the free list here, a much larger con- 
sumption would doubtless ensue. At present a 50-pound sack sells at whole- 
sale at $2.25, local currency. 

C. H. COWAN, Consul. 

Manila, February 7, 189U. 

It has been demonstrated beyond any possibility of doubt that 
the Philippine Islands will become formidable competitors with 
the United States in the raising of cotton, and especially so as the 
Chinese labor in the Philippines can be secured for very much 
less than any labor can be made available in the United States. 
Realizing this, English capitalists are, according to the report of 
Consul Frankenthall, now completing a 6,000-spindle cotton mill, 
with $200,000 capital, for the purpose of manufacturing the native 
cotton. (Consular Reports for November, 1898, page 446.) 

The history of cotton raising in the Philippines up to 1889 is 
thus given by Consul Alexander R. Webb in his report of August 
8, 1889: 

Until a comparatively few years ago considerable bush cotton was raised 
in the Philippine Archipelago, and nearly all of it was made into coarse cloth 
for the natives by means of rude machinery; but it was found that the Eng- 
lish and German cotton fabrics could be bought for very much less than the 
Philippine goods, and the industry was allowed to languish until it died out 
entirely. The rapid growth of the hemp and sugar trade here probably con- 
tributed largely to this result, for the natives, as well as Europeans, soon 
learned that there was much money to be made out of hemp and sugar, and 
very little, if any, out of cotton. 

But within the past two years interest in the subject of cotton growing 
has been revived with the experiments made with American and Egyptian 
cotton seed by some Spaniards and Mestizos, who have conceived the idea 
that the Philippines can be made to yield to Spain a rich revenue if the plant 
is cultivated after modern methods. The climate and soil in some parts of 
the archipelago have been declared favorable to the rapid growth of cotton, 
and the experiments, which thus far have been conducted on a small scale, 
have supported this conclusion. 

Last year a small quantity of excellent cotton was raised and sent to Bar- 
celona, where it was manufactured into tablecloths and napkins and returned 
to Manila, where they were exhibited in the retail dry goods stores as evi : 
dences of the possibilities of the cotton culture here, and attracted a great 
deal of attention. This has encouraged those who have taken an active in- 
terest in the subject, and it is considered possible that within a few years 
cotton may have a place among the exports of the Philippines. 

The following extracts are from the Bulletin de la Societe de 
Geographie Commerciale, Paris, Volume XIX, No. 4: 

The land is wonderfully productive, but lacks intelligent cultivation. So 
wasteful have Deen the methods that, in spite of the wonderful fertility of 
the soil, the harvests have in some places diminished. This is true of maize 
in the island of Cebu and of sugar cane in the province of Pangasinan, where 
new plantations must now be made every year, while at Negros the land 
yields many times in succession. The rice production, formerly so large, has 
so fallen off that importations have been found necessary. 

The production of cotton is also diminishing, for the same reasons that ap- 
ply to rice. It grows in the provinces of North and South Hocus, Union, 
Abra, and Pangasinan. The kinds cultivated are Gossipium harbacseum and 
Bomba pentandrum. The ground is almost never prepared, and the cotton 
is silky in quality and would easily become a valuable product if attention 
4292 



14 



were given to the cultivation. In the two provinces of Hocus too great hu- 
midity is not to he feared for this plant, for the season of rain is well defined 
here from June until October, and the land is adapted to its cultivation. 
Nevertheless, the indolence of the Indians has caused cotton to take an in- 
ferior rank among the products of the colony. 

According to the statement of Section of Foreign Markets, De- 
partment of Agriculture, in Bulletin No. 14 of the year 1898, the 
average importation of cotton manufactures into the Philippine 
Islands since 1886' has been a little less than $6,000,000. With the 
introduction of the cotton mills now building and in project this 
importation will cease. The development of the cotton industries 
in the Philippines means a direct loss to the cotton men of the 
United States of $6,000,000 a year. 

In addition to the bush cotton in the Philippines there is also a 
tree cotton, of which Consul Webb says: 

The tree cotton, which is very plentiful in nearly all the islands, has been 
experimented with to some extent, but, I am told, without satisfactory results, 
the fiber being too short for spinning. Again, it is asserted that if the proper 
machinery were used for cleaning it, it would be found that it could be spun 
and might take the place of bush cotton for many purposes. 

Its production would cost nothing except the expense of gathering, as it 
needs no cultivation. Samples of it were sent to England a short time as:o, 
where it was mistaken, it is said, for Tahiti or sea-island cotton, the fiber be- 
ing quite long enough for spinning if properly cleaned. Here it is used for 
stuffing pillows, cushions, mattresses, etc., but 1 believe that no attempt has 
ever been made here to spin it. It is thought, however, that if a proper ma- 
chine for cleaning and preparing it for market could be had, it might be made 
a good profit-yielding article of export. 

What follows is a statement made by Mr. W. M. Mason: 

No matter hc*v well read a person may be, few in this country realize the 
great amount of sickness which has prevailed among the Americaus who have 
attempted to settle in the Philippine Islands. It has been to the advantage 
of the Administration to keep all unfavorable reports regarding this matter 
in the background, in order that the ranks of the Philippine army may be 
well filled from those young men who are fascinated by the alluring pros- 
pects which a new, and in many ways unknown, country always holds out 
to youth. 

Since the day when the American army landed at Manila up to the pres- 
ent time the many hospitals established by the military have been filled to 
overflowing with soldiers and civilians of the United States who were unable 
to stand the severe climatic conditions of the country. Hundreds have died 
in the prime of youth who, if they had remained in America, would have 
lived long and useful lives and would have been of much more service to 
their Government than unnecessarily giving up their lives to the ravages of 
the diseases of the Philippines. 

In this report, which will soon be made to the Secretary of War, the Sur- 
geon-General will say: 

"After the occupation of Manila the sick lists of the regiments increased 
week by week, due chiefly to intestinal, malarial, and venereal diseases. 
This continued until the middle of December, when the heavy rains ceased." 

Here I would invite attention to the following tabulation, showing annual 
rates per thousand of strength, deduced from the reported experience of 
four months in the Philippines, as compared with the average annual rates 
at military stations in the United States during the ten years 1886-1895, in- 
clusive: 





Philippines. 


Garrisons in 
United States. 




Admis- 
sion rate. 


Death 
rate. 


Admis- 
sion rate. 

1,234 
248 

6 
96 

76 
116 
101 


Death 
rate. 




3,016 
108 

47 
370 

82 
445 

66 


0.26 
1.80 
5.16 

""'.'is" 

.4S 
.36 


7.12 




.'.'. 28 




.64 




.14 


Venereal diseases 


.02 
.13 




jri 







15 

"From these figures it will be seen that the admission rate in Manila has 
been comparatively large, due mainly to malarial diseases, which are climatic, 
and to diarrheal diseases, which are no doubt in large part due to errors and 
irregularities of diet on the part of affected individuals. The malarial dis- 
eases exceed their prevalence in the United States in the proportion of 370 to 
96, and the diarrheal diseases in the proportion of 445 to 116, or about 4 to 1 in 
both instances. 

" Venereal diseases have been slightly in excess, being equal to an annual 
rate of 82 per 1,000 men, but there is reason to believe that this reported rate 
does not express the extent the prevalence of these diseases among the 
troops in Manila. " 

The great prevalence of venereal diseases in the Philippine Islands has 
been remarked upon by all of the Regular Army surgeons who have been 
stationed in those islands, and who have made reports to the Surgeon-Gen- 
eral of the Army. At one time it was stated by an officer of the Medical De- 
partment that of the many hundreds of men who were in the hospitals over 
one-half were suffering from some venereal disease. 

Syphilis is extremely common to the people of the Philippines and is of 
such form as to have greatly baffled the medical treatment of the surgeons 
who have been with the American Army. It is a common sight to see a na- 
tive walking on the streets of Manila infected with this disease to such an 
extent that he presents an appearance of rotting away. 

Many of the Americans who have gone to Manila, either to fight with the 
insurgents or to try and make a fortune, have died from smallpox. For 
some time after the forces of the United States occupied Manila little care 
was taken to prevent this disease from spreading among the troops. Very 
few of the natives are to be seen on the streets of Manila who do not show 
unmistakable signs of having had this terrible disease. It has been stated on 
good authority that smallpox is more prevalent in the Philippine Islands than 
any other place in the world. 

The following are some extracts taken from the reports of Major 
Potter, one of the surgeons stationed in the Philippines: 

October 16, 1898. 

First Colorado Infantry: There has been a steady increase of sickness in 
this regiment since the 1st instant, the percentage of sick to total strength 
having risen from 9 on October 1 to 15 on October 15. Intestinal and mala- 
rial cases form more than two-thirds of the total sick. The heaviest sick list 
occurs in companies recruited in large cities, and the smallest number in the 
companies from small towns and mining camps. 

"First Nebraska Infantry.— This regiment has had a large sick report, 
which is now 17 per cent of the total strength." 

' ' Tenth Pennsylvania Infantry. — Intestinal and malarial diseases constitute 
the bulk of the sickness. The percentage of sick to total present strength 
has been 13 to 13 during the last three weeks." 

"Eighth United States Infantry.— The percentage of sick has varied from 
7 to 9 since October 1, the cases being chiefly intestinal, malarial, and typhoid. 
Two cases of variola recently appeared in the command." 

The reports of Major Potter, made after this time, show a steady increase 
in the percentage of sick. This was due largely to the rainy season, which 
is particularly trying to the Americans. At this time of the year there is a 
steady downpour, resulting in much sickness. The days are hot and damp, 
and the nights are cold and very uncomfortable. 

Among civilians, who did not have the great care and supervision of the 
Regular Army surgeon, there was naturally much more sickness than that 
noticeable among the troops. In fact, the climate of the Philippines is by all 
odds the worst enemy which the Americans have been forced to meet since 
the occupation of the islands. Many of the young men who have srone to 
Manila in the hopes of making their fortune have returned to the 'United 
States, after having had some severe sickness from which they will never 
wholly recover, thoroughly disgusted with all pertaining to the' Philippines 
and the people who inhabit them. 

It has been found that the health conditions in the interior are not any 
better than those in the city of Manila. In speaking of the condition of the 
troops stationed at San Fernando, the Surgeon-General will say in his report: 

"Besides, San Fernando had a local reputation as a heathful locality; in 
fact, it was regarded by the Filipinos as a kind of health resort. Yet the 
sick lists of the commands continued to increase and the sick failed to show 
any noteworthy sign of progress toward recovery of their strength. These 
regiments were shortly afterwards withdrawn from San Fernando to their 
barracks in Manila, where a change for the better was speedily manifested 
in the medical records." 

In the report of Lieut. Col. Henry Lippincott, United States Armv, chief 
1292 



'Siiilii ' 

M 531 530 8 



16 

surgeon, Department of the East Pacific and Eighth Army Corps, the follow- 
ing observation, much to the point, is made: 

"Perhaps it may not be out of place here to exp 1 ess my professional opinion 
as to the length of military service in the Philim ine Islands. 

" Prom sufficient experience, I know that Americana are not, as a rule, able 
to endure this climate for a longer period than two years. Climatic disease3 
and the great enervation due to excessive heat combine to render a longer 
stay here dangerous to the service and to the individual." 

The report of Colonel Lippincott continues in the same strain 
to show that it was necessary to take the greatest care to prevent 
diseases common to the islands 1 rom becoming prevalent among 
the American Army. This, however, is a self-evident fact from 
the various reports which have come from General Otis to the 
Adjutant- General relative to the sickness among the troops. It 
seems to be the opinion among Army officers who are stationed 
in the Philippines, and who saw service in Cuba, that the former 
place is much more unhealthy than the latter. 

The above facts and conditions have been carefully selected 
from the best sources. They speak for themselves and demon- 
strate my contention that the Philippine Islands do not hold out 
any inducements to our farmers, laborers, and business men to 
leave this country in order to enter upon such a field of labor and 
enterprise. But to the imperialist, to those who delight in mili- 
tary glory, to those in whose bosoms burn the fire of conquest and 
the lust of acquisition, to those who love to exercise the power of 
the sword, the permanent retention of the Philippine Islands and 
their government as a colony present many and strong temptations. 

To the sober-minded and industrious eitizen such a prospect 
does not appeal. We can not forget that this same policy of im- 
perialism and military glory dazzled the imagination and wrought 
the ruin of ancient Greece; it caused the downfall of the Roman 
Republic; it disintegrated the power built up with so much care 
by Charles V; it caused the overthrow of the great Napoleon. 
To-day England is shedding the blood of her most illustrious sons 
and spnding millions of money to maintain her policy of coloni- 
zation and imperialism. Having once started on her career of 
conquest and acquisition, she has never been able to stop, and her 
war drums have been beating for two centuries in every quarter 
of the globe. 

Let us stay our footsteps on the threshold of imperialism. Let 
us meet the new century with our faces set against "criminal 
aggression." Let us bestow upon distant peoples the great boon 
of American freedom and American civilization. Above all, let 
us be true to the teachings of our fathers and to those eternal 
principles of liberty which alone can preserve to us the goodly 
heritage we possess. [Loud applause on the Democratic side.] 

o 



DS 








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i TRRARY OF CONGRESS 

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